Similar sounds, different meanings

Have you ever gotten two very similar words mixed up, and ended up with an entirely different meaning to your sentence?

Here's an example I saw on someone's PowerPoint presentation on social ills. The presenter wrote "phonography" instead of "pornography".

Phonography is "phonetic representation or spelling".

Pornography is "printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement".

Not only are these two words very different in meaning, they are completely unrelated to each other. In the context of social ills, phonography has absolutely no place.

I do not think the presenter knew that he had made a mistake. For that matter, I do not think any of the audience noticed the grave error! Or, if anyone did, perhaps he was too polite to say anything. Whatever the case, a mistake is a mistake.

If in doubt, always check the dictionary. It is far more reliable than auto-correct.

A small error can cost you a lot.

Better to be safe than sorry.